740.0011 European War 1939/2664: Telegram
The Minister in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 4—12:16 p.m.]
81. The Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs again expressed the opinion to me this morning that Italy will not enter the war unless and until Germany invades the Balkans or obtains what appears a decisive advantage elsewhere. In this connection he quoted the assurances given to the Greek Government by the Italian Minister on his return from Rome early this week as follows:
“Italy will not enter the war for the present and in any case has no intention of disturbing the peace of the Balkans.”
Neither the Greek Government nor the British and Turkish representatives in Athens have any information concerning reported Italian concentrations in the Dodecanese. According to the Turkish Military Attaché, the Italian naval strength in those islands has recently amounted only to 6 submarines and 2 destroyers, 7 torpedo boats and 8 torpedo launches. Both he and the British Naval Attaché admit that there may have been some reinforcements in the last few days but both regard extensive reinforcements as unlikely and the former points out that concentrating in the Dodecanese would be dangerous for the Italians so long as they do not control Crete.